The Red Devils did a stint
on the German club circuit and it was here that Ray befriended Dutchman Gerry
Romeyn who later introduced him to Peter Tetteroo. In 1964 Ray Fenwick did
a season at Butlin's Holiday Camp in Clacton with a group called The
Excels. They backed a number of well-known names, including Marty Wilde,
Crispian St.Peters and Gene Vincent.

They also backed Elkie Brooks
and The Marionettes, a singing group whose ranks included Mac and
Katie Kissoon who went on to have chart success in the 1970's.

In timeworn
fashion, Ray then answered a small ad in the local paper and joined The
Syndicats, whose guitarist Steve Howe(later of Yes) had just left. He
already featured on the "A" side of the group's next single, but it was Ray
who came up with the "B" side "Crawdaddy
Simone". This featured some incredible wah-wah effect guitar and
is now something of a Freakbeat classic. At the controls was legendary producer
Joe Meek.